Built-up container



1951 l. GOLDMAN 2,554,021

' BUILT UP CONTAINER Filed Feb. 19, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. IRVING GQLDMAN M y 1951 l. GOLDMAN BUILT UP CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 19, 1949 T. flu. T r 4 4 M Z M J. V Ml m W m W L. J m m m u I. v II/IIHI II. E 0 m \u W 5 M. /l W G M I U v 7- Jflw (v/l .I. G R 7 l N I. F/ V 4 M .m

tures;

Patented May 22, 1951 UNITED STATES rrm OFFICE BUILT-UP CONTAINER Irving Goldman, New York, N. Y. Application February 19, 1949, Serial No. 77,349

3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in readily erectable collapsible containers made of a foldable materal, such as corrugated board, and, more particularly, the aim is to provide a novel and valuable such container which may be inexpensively and otherwise entirely practicably embodied, among other ways, as either a one-piece container structure or as a plural-piece container structure.

According to one way of carrying out the invention, a suitcase-like hand-portable container is provided, of smaller cubic content than the larger container constituting the other of the two types of container pursuant to the invention and herein illustratively shown; said container of .smaller cubic content preferably being the one which incorporates a one-piece container structure.

According to another way of carrying out the invention, a storage and shipping container is provided, this the said container of larger content above referred to, with the same constituting a container of such height'that a plurality of garments, as womens dresses may be suspended therein in a manner to preserve the garments against crumpling, rumpling or other temporary or permanent damage or effect detrimental to their ready-for-sale or ready-for-use condition, during storage or shipping.

While in the use of the hand-portable container of the invention the garments, if of such length as mens trousers and womens dresses, are not freely suspendable, they nevertheless are confined and held so that they may be loosely doubled on themselves and in a way also to preserve them against deterioration from unrumpled and clean condition.

Each of the two containers constituting the embodiments of the invention above alluded to may be provided with a swing door, as at the front thereof; and in the case of both these containers interlocking or interfitting parts are included by means of which, or by the aid of which,

the container, when erected, packed and closed, may be dependably sealed closed.

Each of the containers has a movable top or roof section, and in this connection a cooperant feature is the provision of slideway affording means, as additions to the main container strucsaid means incorporating rails along which, depthwisely of the container, a plurality of special garment hangers, the nature of these also constituting a feature of the invention, may be arranged, each such hanger for suspending one or more garments from a point on the latter, as a point thereon high up on the same.

A further feature of the invention is that said slideway means are merely hook-on elements, practicably fabricable as thin metal strip-like stampings and so at negligible cost, and so crosssectionally shaped that they may be securely locked in place when said movable top or roof section of the container is applied or lowered to closed position.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of a rack-bar-like element for cooperating with a plurality of the new hangers on the new trackway means, to space said hangers predeterminedly depthwisely of the container.

Still a further feature of the invention is the provision of a spring-arm element, of Z extension, for use in coaction with one or more hangers in the container, with these hangers so few in number as to be loose in the container, to prevent shifting and rattling of the hangers.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of thesinvention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a now favored form of the aforesaid hand-portable container embodiment of the invention, showing the same closed, as when holding a plurality of garments therein pursuant to the invention.

Fig. 2 shows a single blank, of corrugated board or the like, for being folded on itself to constitute the entirety of the main body of the container shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section, taken substan tially on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 elevationally shows one of the above mentioned hangers; the same being formed of uniplanar fairly rigid yet fairly thin sheet material, as, for example, so-called fibre or fibreboard.

Fig. 4A is a fragmentary perspective view of one of two like members to constitute the above mentioned slideway means.

Fig. 5 is also a fragmentary perspective view, but this showing an upper end portion of the containerof Fig. 1, with now added thereto a pair of said members in the manner shown in the case of the one thereof seen in this view.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section, taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5. V

Fig. '7 is a perspective view showing plurally fragmentarily the already mentioned spring arm of Z extension.

Fig. 8 elevationally shows the already mentioned rack-bar-like element, as adapted for use with the container of Fig. 1 when such container is equipped as explained above in connection with Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a perspective View of a full-length storage and/or shipment container pursuant to the invention; said container, shown in this View as broken away intermediate its upper and lower ends over a major part of the height thereof, being illustrated in closed condition, with adhesive strips applied at the joints thereof.

Fig. 10 is also a perspective view, showing the full height of the container, but with the separate top and bottom end sections, to be telescopically applied to the main body of the container, not yet thus applied.

Fig. 11 is a horizontal section, taken on the line Illl of Fig. 12.

Fig. 12 is a vertical section, taken on the line |2--|2 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 13 is a vertical section, taken on the line l3-I3 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 1 1 is a plan view, looking down on the top of the main body of the container, and with a plurality of the hangers on the slideway means and with a Z-extension element pursuant to the invention applied to hold all the hangers relatively close to a selected vertical wall of the container.

Fig. 15 shows the blank of corrugated board or the like which is folded up to provide the main body of the container.

Fig. 16 (this view substantially the same as Fig. 4A) is a fragmentary perspective showing of one of the two like members to constitute the slideway means for the contained hangers.

Fig. 17 (this view corresponding, as to general subject matter, to Fig. 8) side elevationally shows the rack-bar-like element as adapted for use with the container of Fig. 9.

Fig. 18 is a plan view of such an end section as is seen near the bottom of Fig. 10; said section shown in collapsed condition.

Fig. 19 shows the blank from which such an end section is formed.

Fig. 20 (this view substantially the same as Fig. '7) is a perspective view showing plurally fragmentarily the Z-extension spring arm element.

Referring now to the drawings more in detail, and first to Figs. 1-8, the container here illustrated is as a whole designated 25. The same is made by folding up on itself, along the broken lines indicated in Fig. 2, the blank there shown.

Said blank has a back wall section 26, a front wall section 27, two like side-wall-panel flaps 28, two like complementary side-wall-panel flaps 29, a bottom wall section 38, two like bottom-cupping tabs 3 l, and a top wall section 32.

When the blank 25 is folded up on itself in a manner obvious from what has just been said, the vertically extended (in Fig. 1) rear marginal edges of the flaps 2? may be arranged slightly to overlap the forward marginal edges of the flaps 28; with then all the members 26, 21, 28 and 23 perpendicularly offset from the floor section 30, so that when the top or cover section 32 is swung down as in Fig. 1 the entire upper end of the container is roofed over in a satisfactorily tight manner. As shown in Fig. 3, the bottom-cupping tabs 3| at this time are upstanding and caught behind the panels 28 and 29.

panel 28, each of said panels 28 has a slot 33 therethrough, this for coaction with a tab offset SG appropriately from a panel 29; these tabs 34 being alike, and both being of truncated triangular outline and inwardly tapering toward their root portions.

For interlocking the lowered top or cover section 32 with the front wall section 21, the latter has a slot 35 therethrough, this for coaction with the bill end of a hook-shaped projection 36 offset from the swinging edge of said top section 32.

Said top section 32 is shown as carrying, upwardly extending from its upper surface when lowered, a handle 31, which may be and preferably is a strip of textile or other strong sheet material glued or otherwise suitably attached at its terminal portions to the section 32 between an upwardly bowed intermediate portion of said strip.

One of the plurality of like hangers provided is shown at 38 in Fig. 4, and several thereof are seen in top plan in Fig. 6. Each such hanger has a main bar-like top length, near opposite ends of which at the bottom thereof are upwardly extending notches 38 38 Between said notches the hanger incorporates a central reduced neck portion 38 integrally suspending a hanger-proper portion 38.

At 39 are shown the strip-like members to be used as a pair thereof to provide the slideway means of the invention. Each such fitment 39 includes, extending longitudinally thereof, an intermediate vertical flange 39 a hook-over terminal preferably narrower flange 39 an outer horizontal flange 39, a rail 39 and an inner horizontal flange 39 These parts are so arranged that with said pair of fitments attached to the upper ends of the side walls 2829 of the container as erected in Fig. 1 (of course before lowering the top section 32), a number of the hangers 38, to any total appropriate to the dimension of the container in a direction parallel with said side walls, may be suspended from the rails 39 and slidably therealong; with said rails in the notches 38 The just-mentioned attachment of the two fitments 39 to the side walls of the container is at the downwardly facing grooves of said fitments afforded between the flanges 39 and 39 thereof. Squeezing of the overlapped portions of the panels 28 and 29 into these grooves assists in maintaining the container in erected condition. The locations of the fitments 39 relative to the side wall panels 28 is indicated in dot and dash lines at 39 in Fig. 2.

The rack-bar-like device already referred to is shown at 40 in Fig. 8. The inter-teeth spaces thereof are of a width conforming to the thickness of the sheet material of which the hangers 38 are made, as by stamping out the same.

The spring-arm device of Z-extension already referred to is shown, detached, in Fig. 7 at 4|; and the mode of utilization thereof is clearly shown in Fig. 6.

At 42, 42 in Fig. 1 is illustrated the use of a suitable plurality of suitably placed adhesive strips; which desirably are of the pressure-adhesive type, as is characteristic of so-called draftsmans Scotch tape.

Referring now to the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 9-20, this includes a collapsible box member ll] having side walls [0L and NIH, a back wall [0B, and a front portion IOF comprising a door having end flap IOFZ. Extension flaps IOLI, IOBI, IRA, and IOFI are preferably attached to the bottom end portion of the side, back and front walls and folded on lines H to form a tainer (see Fig. The side walls fold on lines l2, for collapse of the container into a fiat package.

The built-up top section l3 and the similar bottom section I4 are telescoped over the end portions of the built-up four walls, to enclose a compartment th-erewithin.

Fig. 16 shows a rail I5 preferably formed from a flat strip to include a vertical flange-hook to provide a hanger portion for removablyfitting over the upper side wall edges IELE and IURE. The said rail provides a track 553 having at one side a groove I52 and a horizontal ledge I55 at its other side. The length of said rail is such as to endwisely abut the front 10F and back I013, to prevent longitudinal movement of the two rails employed.

The garment hanger l6 (Figs. 10, 12, 13 and 14) is provided with notches 16! for slidably engaging the tracks 153 of the two rails I5. The hanger is shaped in the manner familiar in coat hangers, and a. slot I66 may be provided to facilitate the hanging of trousers, etc. D'epressable spacer fingers I 61 may be provided in suitable size, number and place, and defined by suitable lines of weakness 168.

A suitably toothed spacer bar ll (Fig. 17) is provided, this having its teeth Hi arranged to receive hangers l6 therebetween and to hold them in spaced relation. These teeth may be of uniform width to provide uniform spacing of the two-layer integral bottom for the built-u conhangers; but bars may also be provided having teeth of different widths to vary the relative hanger spacing.

In Fig. 10 at l'l is shown a spacer, special to each hanger and integral therewith; with one such spacer l'l at each end of a hanger.

At times a partly filled container (note Fig. 14) must necessarily be shipped. To hold said few hangers in locked position, a spring lock bar such as I8 (Fig. 20) is removably inserted as shown (Fig. 14), with one end l8l abutting the outer hanger l6 and its other end I82 abutting the closed front door IllF.

In assembling the container, preparatory to packing the same, I prefer to stand the integral wall members on their bottom portions, and then to fold inwardly the end flaps IDLI, IOBI, IORI and IOFI, thereby to cause the members lDLl and IDRI to be parallel with members IIJBI and IUFI but overlying them. The door iflF of course is left open to provide passageway for the merchandise to be packed. The hangers with the garments thereon are then slid along the slideways provided by the rails l 5, and when the compartment is suitably filled, the door is closed, and flap IOFZ is sealed in place, preferably with gummed paper tape as indicated at 20.

After this, the top section I3- is telescoped over the upper end of the main body of the container.

The bottom section I 4 is then telescoped over the lower end portion of the main body of the container, and suitably attached, as for example, by gum paper tape 20*.

The bottom section l4, however, may be placed in position prior to packing, but in such case the flap [4F will not as yet be secured to tabs MT. After the door lfiF is closed, the said flap l lF may be secured in a suitable manner, as with staples. In this latter method, then, the top section 13 is the last end section applied. Also, a door flap 6 such as IOF3 may be biased to easy folding, to permit the door to close when the bottom is already in place.

To form the top and bottom sections, their flaps are folded up at right angles to portion MB, and the tabs MT are then folded about fold line ML to lie against the outer side surface of flaps IAF to form a rectangular coverless box having sides that may hingedly collapse to form a flat object for more economical storage and shipping.

The box unit formed by the joined side is collaps-c ible on fold lines MC and [AM to assume the condition shown in Fig. 18.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the rig-ht is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A housing container for a plurality of garments to be confined therein while suspended from a plurality of slidably mounted hangers therein, comprising a collapsible container unit formed by folding a blank on itself to provide a main structure including a back wall, a pair of side wall components, and a front wall constituted as a swingably openable and closable door, the said container also including a bottom section and a top section, said bottom section for placement to close the bottom of the container and said top section being movable relativ to said,

side wall components for placement to roof over the top of the container and for other placement to open up said top, and a trackway means extending, in terms of the container when erected and upright, substantially horizontally and in a direction perpendicular to said back wall, said trackway means comprising two like fitments each longitudinally thereof having a hook-over formation for frictionally embracing the opposite sides of the top of a different one of said side wall components and each longitudinally thereof and inwardly of said formation formed to incorporate a rail substantially of inverted-U cross-section, whereby when said top section is secured in its first-named placement both said fitments are locked against disengagement from said side wall components, there also being provided a plurality of hangers having undercut notches shaped cross-sectionally in correspondence with the cross-sectional shape of said notches, said container being folded up from a single blank having integral subdivisions respectively providing said back wall, said top and bottom sections, said side wall components and said door, said subdivisions including four subdivisions for establishing both said side wall components, there being two such subdivisions for each side wall component with one thereof in the form of an elongate flap and the other thereof also in the form of an elongate flap.

2. A housing container for a plurality of garments to be confined therein while suspended from a plurality of slidably mounted hangers therein, comprising a collapsible container unit formed by folding a blank on itself to provide a placement to close the bottom of the container and said top section being movable relative to said side wall components for placement to roof over the top of the container and for other placement to open up said top, and a trackway means extending, in terms of the container when erected and upright, substantially horizontally and in a direction perpendicular to said back wall, said trackway means comprising two like fitments each longitudinally thereof having a hook-over formation for friotionally embracing the opposite sides of the top of a different one of said side wall components and each longitudinally thereof and inwardly of said formation formed to in corporate a rail substantially of inverted-U cross-section, whereby when said top section is secured in its first-named placement both said fitments are locked against disengagement from said side wall components, there also being provided a plurality of hangers having undercut notches shaped cross-sectionally in correspondence with the cross-sectional shape of said notches, said container being folded up from a single blank having integral subdivisions respectively providing said back wall, said top and bottom sections, said side wall components and said door, said subdivisions including four subdivisions for establishing both said side wall components, there being two such subdivisions for each side wall component with one thereof in the form of an elongate flap and the other thereof also in the form of an elongate flap, the sum of the widths of the two flaps of each of the lastnamed subdivisions being greater than the width of said bottom section.

3. A housing container for a plurality of garments to be confined therein while suspended from a plurality of slidably mounted hangers therein, comprising a collapsible container unit formed by folding a blank on itself to provide a main structure including a back wall, a pair of side wall components, and a front wall constituted as a swingably openable and closable door, the said container also including a bottom section and a top section, said bottom section for placement to close the bottom of the container and said top section being movable relative to said side wall components for placement to roof over the top of the container and for other placement to open up said top, and a trackway means extending, in terms of the container when erected and upright, substantially horizontally and in a direction perpendicular to said back wall, said trackway means comprising two like fitments each longitudinally thereof having a hook-over formation for frictionally embracing the opposite sides of the top of a different one of said side wall components and each longitudinally thereof and inwardly of said formation formed to incorporate a rail substantially of inverted-U cross-section, whereby when said top section is secured in its first-named placement both said fitments are locked against disengagement from said side wall components, there also being provided a plurality of hangers having undercut notches shaped cross-sectionally in correspondence with the cross-sectional shape of said notches, said container being folded up from a single blank having integral subdivisions respectively providing said back wall, said top and bottom sections, said side wall components and said door, said subdivisions including four subdivisions for establishing both said side wall components, there being two such subdivisions for each side wall component with one thereof in the form of an elongate flap and the other thereof also in the form of an elongate flap, the sum of the widths of the two flaps of each of the last-named subdivisions being greater than the width of said bottom section, said container having slot and tab interlock means integrally carried by said blank.

IRVING GOLDMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 604,756 Hirschbach May 31, 1898 1,424,333 Batts Aug. 1, 1922 1,489,446 Langmuir Apr. 8, 1924 2,002,246 Miller May 21, 1935 2,070,924 Derman Feb. 16, 1937 2,163,116 Derman June 20, 1939 

